hase of balloting, second round (after five
rounds in first phase failed); percent of parliamentary vote - Vaira
VIKE-FREIBERGA 53%, Valdis BIRKAVS 20%, Ingrida UDRE 9%

Lebanon:
chief of state: President Emile LAHUD (since 24 November
1998)

head of government: Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI (since 23 October
2000); Deputy Prime Minister Issam FARES (since 23 October 2000)

cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president and members of the National Assembly; the current
Cabinet was formed in 1998

elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
six-year term; election last held 15 October 1998 (next to be held
NA 2004); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the
president in consultation with the National Assembly; by custom, the
president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni
Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim

election results: Emile LAHUD elected president; National Assembly
vote - 118 votes in favor, 0 against, 10 abstentions

Lesotho:
chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996);
note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November
1990 to February 1995, while his father was in exile

head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May
1998)

cabinet: Cabinet

elections: none; according to the constitution, the leader of the
majority party in the assembly automatically becomes prime minister;
the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution
which came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is
a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative
powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to
determine who is next in the line of succession, who shall serve as
regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age, and may
even depose the monarch

Liberia:
chief of state: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2
August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government

head of government: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2
August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the
Senate

elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(renewabl